NCCR DFAB Alumni at CAAD Futures 2025

The 2025 CAAD Futures conference in Hong Kong highlighted the exceptional global reach and influence of the NCCR Digital Fabrication. Our alumni contributed as organisers, speakers, and keynotes.

Group photo of the CAAD Futures 2025 participants in Hong Kong. Photo by CAAD Futures 2025

CAAD Futures 2025, hosted at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) under the theme Catalytic Interfaces, gave significant visibility for NCCR DFAB alumni in Asia. The conference organisation included several former NCCR DFAB researchers. Prof. Dr. Kam-Ming Mark Tam, Lead Co-Chair of the conference is a former doctoral fellow at the Block Research Group, while Prof. Dr. Tan Tan, a former NCCR DFAB postdoctoral researcher, served as Co-Chair of the Scientific Programme Committee.

NCCR DFAB Alumni at CAAD Futures 2025

NCCR DFAB research was strongly positioned in the core content of the conference, with two keynote presentations delivered by distinguished former members of the programme.

Prof. Dr. Mariana Popescu (MIT), a former doctoral and postdoctoral researcher within NCCR DFAB, presented a keynote on her pioneering work on digital membrane structures that eliminate the need for traditional formwork. Her research continues to build on and contribute to the COMPAS ecosystem, an open-source computational framework central to digital fabrication in architecture.

The keynote of Prof. Daniela Mitterberger (Princeton), previously a postdoc researcher in Desgin++ at ETH Zurich, presented research from projects focused on computational design and augmented reality construction technologies.

The conference also featured contributions from DFAB alumni, including Victor Leung (City University of Hong Kong) and current ETH Zurich researchers and MAS ETH DFAB alumni Wenqian Yang and Dr. Achilleas Xydis. Serving as presenters, session chairs, and speakers, these individuals exemplified the enduring relevance and collaborative spirit fostered by NCCR DFAB.

Shaping the Future of Architecture Across Continents

NCCR DFAB’s continued commitment to its global community is evident in its support for the keynote speakers, with the intent to enabling meaningful exchange and visibility at this international forum. In total, CAAD Futures 2025 featured over 80 peer-reviewed papers from approximately 260 authors across 24 countries. Through both its academic sessions and the Catalytic Interfaces Programme, the event advanced dialogue in fields such as artificial intelligence, extended reality, robotic fabrication, and urban design.

The prominent participation of NCCR DFAB alumni at CAAD Futures 2025 not only reflects the scientific excellence of their work but also underscores their leadership in shaping the future of architectural design worldwide. The conference served as a powerful testament to the lasting influence and global reach of this NCCR and how it continues to transform architecture across disciplines and borders.